Budget Stability Research Articles

Optically stimulated luminescence dating of young estuarine sediments: a comparison with 210Pb and 137Cs dating

A sediment core taken from a tidal mudflat in Ho Bugt in the northernmost part of the Wadden Sea in Denmark is used to explore the application of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to young fine-grained estuarine sediments, using 210Pb dating and the 137Cs Sellafield peak from 1980 as independent age control. Despite the anticipated difficulties of weak luminescence signals and incomplete resetting of residual radiation dose prior to deposition, the OSL ages from the sediment core ranged from 7.0±1.5 at the surface to 305±16 years (68 cm depth). OSL- and 210Pb-dates were in good agreement back to ∼1975, and even as far back as ∼1945 using the CRS-model. The average OSL age of 9±3 years for the surface mixing zone indicates that the OSL signal of the quartz grains was well zeroed at deposition. The OSL ages give new information on past deposition regimes on the Ho Bugt mudflat: fine-grained sediment started to deposit at ∼0.5 mm year −1 approximately 300 years ago, when a terrestrial reed-swamp was transgressed. About 100 years ago, the sedimentation rate increased to ∼4 mm year −1. Approximately 40 years ago, the sediment became more fine-grained, perhaps because of emergence of the tidal flat; the accretion rate at that time was already well above the local rate of sea-level rise of ∼1 mm year −1. The post-1980 accretion rate was found to be ∼16 mm year −1 with OSL dating and ∼9–12 mm year −1 with 210Pb and 137Cs dating. Advantages of the OSL method include applicability over a much larger time-span (∼125 ka compared to ∼120 years for 210Pb) and a lack of significant dependence on changes in mean grain size or 210Pb supply. With this method, it is also possible to date sediment cores from sand flats, providing a new approach to the problem of evaluation of stability and calculation of sediment budgets for estuaries and coastal lagoons.

The Budgetary Repercussions Of Capital Convictions

Abstract Understanding how transient fiscal distress affects the stability and distribution of local budgets is increasingly important as control of public spending and revenues becomes more decentralized. This paper exploits the large and unexpected shock to county budgets imposed by capital crime trials, first to understand the incidence of the cost of capital convictions, and second to uncover the effects of local fiscal distress on the level and distribution of public spending and revenues. I show that these trials are quite costly relative to county budgets (with each trial causing an increase in county spending of more than $2 million), and that the costs are borne primarily by increasing taxes (although perhaps partially by decreases in police and capital spending). Using these trials as a source of exogenous variation, I also find significant inter-jurisdictional spillovers of both spending and revenues.

Budgeting in Slovenia During the Democratic Transition

Slovenia represents an interesting and important case in the study of comparative budgeting in post-socialist countries during democratization and economic reform. Compared to Hungary and other nations in the region, Slovenia has had more budget stability and has maintained fiscal balances through shared political norms and strong ministerial guardianship. Political culture, institutional capacity, and the nature of governing coalitions all affected budget outcomes. In general, Slovenia has moved more quickly to reform its budgetary institutions and processes but still faces a range of difficult budget issues and choices.

Quantitative Microwave Backscatter Measurements from the Ocean Surface Using Digital Marine Radar Images

The capabilities for quantitative measurements of the ocean backscatter at low grazing angles of a conventional low-budget X-band marine radar associated with a commercial digital capture board are investigated. Details are given of the external and internal calibration methods designed to determine the system’s transfer function. This work reveals that the accurate system transfer function can be determined only by calibrating the composite system in one single step. Results of an absolute calibration attempt using buoy-based corner reflectors in very calm weather conditions are presented. The dynamic range is deduced and found to span over a 50-dB range well suited to describe the ocean backscatter coefficient values expected at low grazing angles. The analysis of the overall error budget and system stability provides a theoretical estimate of the system’s relative radiometric resolution. The marine radar system is found to produce backscatter coefficient images with a relative error typically of the order of 1 dB. When averaging over several antenna rotations, the error reduces further down to 0.6 dB, where it compares favorably with the performance of traditional research radar systems. It is concluded that despite the inexpensive nature of these instruments, marine radar systems represent a tool that is effective in routinely providing reliable quantitative measurements of the sea surface roughness, which may serve to complement the synoptic views offered commonly by satellite or airborne radars.

MAIN DIRECTIONS OF MODERN TAX POLICY

Summary. The purpose of the study - The role of tax policy in the formation of state budget revenues and analysis of the main directions of modern tax policy. Applied significance of the research - Creating a reliable method of tax planning is one of the ways to improve the budgeting process. Tax policy also covers the necessary issues of taxes and payments in accordance with the provisions of the legislative documents. In this regard, ensuring budget stability requires the creation of an efficient tax policy. Tax regulation acts as a key component of the success of the financial activity of a business entity. Its main purpose includes issues such as using tax benefits and advantages, minimizing tax payments by legal methods based on the correct selection of tax regimes and taxation objects, and literacy on the formation and use of accounting policy elements. Modern tax policy is reflected in the variety of applied tax types, tax rates, the creation of the circle of taxpayers and taxation objects, and the application of tax concessions.

New shuttle?

A good demonstration of voting power was provided at a March 13 markup hearing of the House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. After somewhat heated debate, the subcommittee voted generally along party lines to construct a new unmanned shuttle.Although the House and Senate have not agreed on final Fiscal Year 1990 NASA authorizing legislation, which both chambers passed last year, the subcommittee put its final touches on a new 3‐year NASA authorization bill. H.R. 4196 provides a 23% increase in budget authority, authorizing $3.4 billion in FY 1991, $11.2 billion in FY 1992, and $16.2 billion in FY 1993. Space interests have long sought a multiyear authorization, claiming it would ensure budget stability.

Factors That Influence State Funding for Mental Health Research

A 50-state survey was conducted to identify the extent of and the factors associated with states' funding of mental health research. Of the 49 states responding, 28 funded mental health research. Funds for research represented about .3 percent of total state expenditures for mental health. More populous states were more likely to fund mental health research. A moderately high correlation was found between state funding for research and federal research funding, and a modest but statistically significant correlation was found between state funding for research and total state expenditures for mental health. No correlation was found between state mental health research funding and state per capita mental health expenditures. Political environments supportive of mental health research were characterized by budget stability, articulate and committed leaders, and active citizen advocacy.

The politics of a windfall: allocating special offshore oil and gas receipts in four southern states facing fiscal retrenchment

Windfall receipts represent unusual opportunities either to help resolve current budget needs or to provide more long-term budget stability. This paper uses a set of state case studies to clarify the windfall phenomena. The windfall program under study is a special Federal-State offshore oil and gas revenue sharing program. At the time of the windfall receipt, each affected state faced significant current account retrenchment. Under both public choice and resource scarcity reasoning, windfall receipts are vulnerable to current account spending. The results indicate, however, that prior windfall experience or existing decision-rules governing windfall receipts provide an incentive to allocate a windfall differently than current revenues. In each case studied, part, or all, of the windfall was dedicated into an unexpendable trust fund. The implications for future study are discussed.

Sediment budget stability in the Tar River basin, North Carolina

Sediment budget stability in the Tar River basin, North Carolina

Grant length and budget stability at the National Institutes of Health.

Decreasing the length of grant awards for biomedical research has been suggested as a means of ensuring greater accountability. An analysis of grant programs of the National Institutes of Health and, in particular, at the National Cancer Institute, revealed that the length recommended for grants is closely related to their perceived scientific merit. A principal conclusion is that selectively increasing the length of grants for only the most outstanding applications competing for renewal might improve research productivity while reducing research costs and easing the growing burden on the peer review process.

The usefulness of travel budgets

Many researchers have found the idea of a ‘constant outlay’ on travel a magnetic hypothesis. If true, it would provide a useful touchstone to test the reliability of existing transport models and a constraint to improve them. This paper has five parts. First, a number of ways are investigated in which a known travel budget could be incorporated into the generation, mode choice or distribution parts of current models. Secondly, there is a discussion of some implications of doing this on policy evaluation. Thirdly consideration is given to some of the difficulties in interpreting empirical work on this subject, to judge whether inferences that have been drawn on stability of travel budgets are supported. Fourthly, some theoretical problems are raised, particularly relating to the behavioral implications of stable budget assumptions. Lastly, some general conclusions are drawn. It is suggested that we are likely to learn most about travel behaviour, mobility and the effect of alternative policies if the time and money allocated to travel are treated as variables, not behavioral constants. These outlays are likely to be influenced, in particular, by travel opportunities and costs, as well as various socio-economic and personal characteristics.

The Need for Balanced Federal Budgets

It should be the policy of the federal govern ment to aim always for a balanced budget or financial stability will be upset. To balance the budget, action should be taken to reduce or end some federal programs which we have been acquiring in the past thirty years. The compensatory theory of federal spending has not been successful until now and offers little hope for the future unless there is control in the growth of federal spending. We should not initiate programs as tem porary expedients during times of recession since they create great problems in future years. Although we must accept deficits when the country is in a national emergency, we should later create equivalent surpluses to offset deficits caused by the emergency. It is, therefore, necessary to pay as we go if we want to reduce the national debt and taxes. It is also neces sary to plan for budgetary surpluses in good years if we do not want to extend inflation in the future.—Ed.